Expansion shim for rail joints



June 15 1926. H. MCDONALD EXPANSION SHIM FOR RAIL JOINTS Filed March 9, 1926 I h I I 4; wwmm [Main 2w Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT oFFic-E.

HUNTER MQDONALID, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

EXPANSION SHIM FOR RAIL JOINTS. 7

Application filed March 9, 1926. Serial No. 93,415.

the rails in accordance with the temperature at the time the trackis laid, and which may be readily removed as soon as the joint is completed. Thus, the shims may be used over and over again, and they may be made of different standard thicknesses for different temperatures, or fillers may be provided to obtain the required thickness for a given temperature.

The construction of the invention and the method of using the same will be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the same in its preferred embodiment.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shim as it is held while the next rail is being brought into position. 7

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the shim in position between the ad acent ends of the rails after they are in position 2 temper. In making the shim, a strip oi suitable length is intermediately bent to form a. ring 5, leaving the end portions 6 close to each other and extending in the same directlon. Several different thicknesses of metal may be used in making the shims, so that the latter will be of different standard thicknesses, varying from oneeighth inch to five-sixteenths inch, thus allowing the proper size to be selected, according to the prevailing temperature.

In laying the track, the shim; is held as shown in Figure 1, against the head of the rail 7, which is the last rail laid, while the rail 8 is forced tightly against it. The shim will then be held by friction, as shown in- Figures 2 and 3, but when it is removed the proper space is left between'the adjacent ends of the rails to allow for subsequent expansion, due to a rise in temperature. With the shims heretofore used, after the joint is completed it has ordinarily been necessary to vwalt until the temperature falls and the rails contract before the shim can be withdrawn. ing the rails they are forced together at the joints and pinch the shim. In using the present invention, however, a sharpened wrench handle 9, such as is ordinarily used in putting on the joints, may be inserted in the ring5, as shown in Figure 4, and the handle may be moved, as shown in dotted lines, until its end drops over the edge of the adjacent splice bar 10, which constitutes a fulcrum on which the handle 9 may be used as a lever to withdraw the shim. v

If desired, the shims may be all made of thesame thickness, and fillers of any desired thickness may be placed between the two legs 6. The precise shape and size of the shim, as well as the material of which it is composed, may be varied as occasion This is because in lay- A may require without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An expansion shim for use between adjacent ends of rails when they are beinglaid, and comprising a portion of predetermined thickness adapted to be received between said ends to gage the space between them, and another-portion having an openconnecting the same, and adapted to receive the end of a tool constituting a lever for forcing the shim from between the rails after the joint is completed. I

3. An expansion shim for use between adjacent ends of rails When they are being laid, and comprising a single, flat metal strip of predetermined thickness with its middle portion in the form of a ring, and its remaining portions forming two legs side by side and adapted to be pinched between said adiacent ends.

In testimony'that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaflixed my signature.

HUNTER MCDONALD. 

